Given the importance of tea in Japan, within the monasteries there is a small temple to celebrate the tea ceremony.
In Japan Zen monasteries give a lot of importance to tea
And it is usual in them To have a small temple to officiate the tea ceremony
where a sacred space of inner recognition and harmony is opened
in the most daily activity that can exist This is very common also in many private houses where they look for spaces of maximum beauty
Simplicity, respect and harmony In them the movements are slow and there is no talking when drinking this drink with incredible properties
The tea was introduced in Japan in the eighth century by monks who spent time studying Buddhism in China
They used it to stay awake during long hours of meditation
According to history Sai Shoi He was the first monk who brought tea to Japan
but the relations between China and Japan were not very good at that time
So it was a rather sneaky act
it was in 1191 When the monk Eizai and founder of the Rinzai in Buddhism brought some tea seeds with him to Japan, he planted these seeds on the island of Kiuzu
And also In the area of Hakata Shrine, Fukuoka Eizai shared the wisdom that drinking tea was very beneficial for health and soul
and encouraged its consumption intensively by teaching the Japanese the Chinese method of preparation
What was used under the Song Dynasty Tea leaves were ground into a fine powder under the pressure of rotating stones
and then they were infused in a very special way
The importance of this ritual and its discipline At the same time the austere nature of Rinzai They were gradually giving way to To what today is known as Shado or Japanese tea ceremony Where this fine tea powder called matcha is used to create a peaceful atmosphere
Harmony And simplicity Where the important thing is just The essence of this plant The simplicity of a leaf turned into a ritual Just watching feeling And don't play Grant Full consciousness to the act of baby part of the earth we inhabit
Audio:
Subtitles:
Main Sutras of Zen Buddhism
The Koans
Martial arts
What is Zen?
Art and Zen - Sumi E -
Zen anecdotes
The Haiku
Zen and its influence on the art of Japan
The 12 principles of Zen wisdom